Associate Director, Gift Planning

Department

ARD Gift Planning

About the Department

Alumni Relations and Development (ARD) engages alumni (~190k), current students, parents and friends of the University through intellectual, professional and social activities on campus, around the world and online. ARD raises $550 Million annually to support faculty and researchers, practitioners and patients, and students and programs across the University. Our work supports priorities in every division, school, department, and institute.

The Office of Gift Planning specializes in philanthropic support for the University through charitable bequests, gift annuities, charitable remainder trusts, charitable lead trusts, gifts of real estate, in kind gifts and gifts of complex assets. The Office of Gift Planning works closely with individual donors and their advisors to structure charitable gifts in a manner that will take advantage of tax benefits, complement financial planning, and maximize the ultimate impact of a gift.

This position has a hybrid work schedule which includes weekly in office presence located in Hyde Park at 5235 South Harper Court.

Job Summary

The Associate Director, Gift Planning, will function as a frontline planned gift officer covering a regional territory in the United States. The Associate Director will be an integral member of the gift planning team as well as valued partner to other regional gift officers and unit gift officers from other units’ cross campus. The position uses best practices and knowledge of the gift planning program across the University to secure planned gifts from alumni and friends. Develops gift-giving strategy and uses prospect management system for identification, cultivation, and solicitation of individuals for optimal gifts to the University. Has full authority of the gift planning office, staff, and associated programs. Interprets University goals and priorities, and accordingly advises donors and their advisors. Oversees gift stewardship in conjunction with University Financial Services to ensure smooth operation of gift stewardship.

Responsibilities

• Secures planned gifts from University alumni and friends.
• Proactively seeks and identifies new planned giving prospects.
• Manages a portfolio of planned gift prospects with the goal of acquiring new planned gifts and obtaining additional commitments, planned and outright, from current planned gift donors.
• Commits to meeting contact, visit and solicitation goals to sustaining external focus and frontline fundraising activity.
• Travels to meet with potential donors.
• Plans and implements cultivation strategies and solicitations of deferred gifts.
• Qualifies and cultivates prospects who respond to marketing materials or other portals through diligent and systematic follow-up.
• Plans and implements strategies for increasing planned gift activity in assigned units across campus, including prospect pool or portfolio analysis, strategy sessions, training, planned gift reporting, goal-setting, and partnering directly with other gift officers on individual prospects.
• Contributes creative new ideas for raising awareness of gift planning opportunities and driving gift planning activity.
• Motivates individuals and groups, fosters collaboration with colleagues, and engenders loyal relationships with donors. Invests in the success of the team, the goals of Alumni Relations and Development and the best interests of the University.
• Produces high level and sophisticated communications (written and verbal), including planned gift illustrations, tax and financial calculations, and personalized consultations.
• Develops and maintains content expertise in gift planning vehicles, estate, and tax planning, investing, financial planning, philanthropic planning, and economic climate.
• Develops and maintains expertise on University initiatives, current events, and history.
• Seeks opportunities for professional development that will enhance job performance, including building networks within the University and with colleagues at peer institutions.
• Works with high-level donors and with other University development staff members to secure planned gifts from alumni and friends of the University. Designs a marketing program and implements it through staff members. Maintains communication across the University.
• Uses a deep understanding in donor programs to identify planned giving prospects and plans strategies and the solicitations of planned and deferred gifts from individual donors. Secures planned gifts from University alumni and friends.
• Performs other related work as needed.

Minimum Qualifications

Education:

Minimum requirements include a college or university degree in related field.